Apple tree-- Fulford variety

ABSTRACT

A discovery of a new apple tree, specifically a mutation of the Kidd or Gala variety, is disclosed. The new apple variety is medium to dark red in color.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety in the present application is a mutation of the Kidd orGala variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,637), which we found during 1983 asa single bud sport or limb mutation among trees growing in the OmahuriOrchard in Hastings, New Zealand. We recognized the distinctive coloringof the fruit and other attributes of the variety which were differentfrom the Kidd or Gala apple tree. Asexual reproduction of our discoverywas first performed during 1983. The new variety has been named theFulford variety. Asexual reproduction has shown that the uniquecombinations of characteristics and distinctive coloring remain true insuccessive propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph displays the foliage and fruit of a typicalspecimen of the present discovery. The color representation is asreasonably close to the live specimen as is possible in illustrations ofthis kind.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new variety with colordesignations where appropriate. The color terminology is in accordancewith the Pantone color system the Pantone Color Formula Guide, 747XR,1987-1988, and all such designations are Pantone color codes.

In comparison with the Gala (Kidds D-8) variety, U.S. Plant Pat. No.3,637, the bloom dates and fruit harvest dates are approximately thesame, although the fruit of the present variety may be ready for pickingslightly earlier or slightly later than the Gala (Kidds D-8), dependingon the season. Testing in the Hawkes Bay area of New Zealand, indicateda bloom date of Oct. 15, 1989 and a harvest data of Feb. 15, 1990. Theflower color of the new variety is a darker pink in the center than theGala (Kidds D-8). The fruit yield is approximately Ten Percent (10%)less than the Gala (Kidds D-8). The keeping quality is good but isslightly less than the Gala (Kidds D-8). The fruit of the new variety issomewhat softer than the Gala (Kidds D-8) and has lower soluble solidsat the same level of maturity. The new variety is an annual bearer offruit.

As for tree characteristics, the bark is substantially the same as theGala (Kidds D-8) variety, but the tree has flatter branch angles and isslightly less vigorous than the Gala (Kidds D-8).

The color of the fruit is a substantially brighter red than the Gala(Kidds D-8) variety, with the red color being distributed uniformly overthe fruit. The color of the new variety is different from the ScarletGala variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,172) in that the Scarlet Galavariety has a light stripe blending to a bright red blush over a creamyellow color. The new variety is a uniform, bright red and has no stripeat all.

The specimens described below were tested at the DSIR Research Orchard,Havelock North, New Zealand.

Tree: Moderately vigorous; spreading; with predominance of bearing onspur.

Dormant one year old shoot: Medium pubescence on upper half; mediumthickness; moderate number of lenticels; predominantly reddish brown onthe sunny side; pointed bud tips; fruit buds (on spurs) conicallyshaped.

Flower: Bud color is deep rose just prior to opening; the beginning offlowering (when 10% of the flowers have opened) is early; the flowershape is slightly cupped or flat when observed at the start of antherdehiscence; pressed flat, the flowers are of medium size with petalmargins free.

Leaf: General pose of the leaf is upwards; medium in size, 80 mm(millimeters) in length, 40 mm in width for fully expanded leaf; thelength/width ratio of blades being medium; cross sectional shape isunfolded; margins show both crenate and serrate indentation; moderateglossiness of upper leaf surface; moderate pubescence on lower leafsurface; petiole length is longer than average; stipule size ismoderate.

Fruit: Typically moderate in size, averaging 60 mm (millimeters) inlength and 70 mm in breadth; ellipsoid in shape; symmetrical in crosssection; little or no ribbing with moderate crowning at the distal end;the aperture of the eye is typically closed; medium sepal length; thebasin depth (eye end) is moderate while the width is narrow; ribbing inthe basin area is either absent or weak; the skin is smooth and isabsent bloom; the skin is thick and has little tendency towardsgreasiness; the ground color of the skin is yellow and over color (red)is present overall; the over color is solid flush; russet appearance isslight or weak and is found typically around the stalk cavity; lenticlesare small; the flesh is firm and yellowish with a fine texture; juicywith moderate to high sweetness; long and narrow "Y" shaped calyx tube;core line in cross section (median through locules) is moderatelydistinct with the apertures of the locules open.

Maturity.--Ripening for eating is early, approximately 10 days earlierthan Cox's Orange Pippin; maturity for picking is approximately 3 dayslater than Cox's Orange Pippin.

Seed.--Seeds are small and brown in color when dried.

Color.--The fruit has a pleasing and fairly uniform red appearance. Thered varies moderately from a medium shade (Pantone 186C, 193C, 199C and200C) to a deeper color (Pantone 187C and 201C).

The leaf color is typical and varies somewhat. The leaf color is besttypified as a dark green (Pantone 3302C, 3308C, 3435C and 350C). Lightergreens may occur on portions of the leaf or leaf edge and have beenobserved only as an inferior coloration (Pantone 364C).

Resistance to:

Apple black spot.--Good.

Powdery mildew.--Good to highly resistant.

Glomerella cingulate.--Susceptible.

Wooly aphid.--Good to highly resistant.

Red mite.--Good.

Leaf roller.--Good.

Stalk: Thick; moderately long; stalk cavity is deep and of medium width.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree which is a mutationof the Kidd or Gala variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,637) substantially asshown and described, characterized by an overall bright red color.